The veteran British metal band have been announced as headliners for Donnington’s 2016 music event, which will be their only UK show on their current world tour.

The festival will be taking place on the 10-12 June 2016 at Donnington Park in Leicestershire. Considered the spiritual home of rock music, Iron Maiden have headlined the festival five times previously, in 1988, 1992, 2003, 2007 and most recently in 2013.

The tour comes of off the back of their 16th studio album, ‘The book of souls’ which reached the number one spot in over 40 countries and sold 75,000 copies in its first week. The band will be visiting 35 countries over six continents and will be transported in a customized Boeing 747-400 flown by front man Bruce Dickinson.

“Download is a very special place for us. Not just because it’s always great to play on home turf but because there’s a truly unique vibe there, it’s the very heart of England and of metal so a fitting place for Iron Maiden!” Says lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. Adding that “The crowd is always fiercely passionate and the whole band feeds off that famous Donnington energy. We aim to deliver a really memorable show for our fans to close the 2016 Festival.”

Bruce also states “We haven’t decided on the set list as yet and won’t until we start rehearsing but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live.” He continued by saying “I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favourites too.”

The tour and album had been delayed after Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with tongue cancer early this year managing to get the all clear in July.